See All

Preferences

My Communities

My Discussions

My Email Digests

I recently received the results of my annual lipid test, and I seem to have an unusual profile. My HDL is very high, my LDL is very high, and my Trigylcerides are low. HDL 111 LDL 202 Triglycerides 63I have been a vegetarian for 50 years and am very physically active. I am small, 5'1'', and weigh 88 pounds. I am turning 60 next month. There seems to be little I can do to make lifestyle changes that would improve cholesterol levels, unless I eliminate all dairy and eggs (I eat so little of them now) I take no medication, and I think I'm in good health. I don't know what to do. I am reluctant to take statins, because I have no diagnosed cardiac problem, and am concerned about side effects. Any suggestions? Should I see a specialist?

Thanks for your Reply!

7 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Cholesterol confusionI recently received the results of my annual lipid test, and I seem to have an unusual profile. My HDL is very high, my LDL is very high, and my Trigylcerides are low. HDL 111 LDL 202 Triglycerides 63I have been a vegetarian for 50 years and am very physically active. I am small, 5'1'', and weigh 88 pounds. I am turning 60 next month. There seems to be little I can do to make lifestyle changes that would improve cholesterol levels, unless I eliminate all dairy and eggs (I eat so little of them now) I take no medication, and I think I'm in good health. I don't know what to do. I am reluctant to take statins, because I have no diagnosed cardiac problem, and am concerned about side effects. Any suggestions? Should I see a specialist?

I think you are wise to be "reluctant to take statins since you have never been diagnosed with cardiac problems." I never understood the logic in treating a person for a disease they didn't have.

If you are curious as to what the inside of your arteries look like, ultrasound is low cost and risk free. It can look inside your neck, Heart valves, and leg arteries.

Prescribing a statin to healthy people based upon a cholesterol number, in hopes of preventing heart disease in the future is all a silly wild guess.

Eliminating eggs would probably have little to no effect on your serum cholesterol levels. Nutritional science has come a long way in the last 20 years, and the old 1970's theory that eating an egg raises cholesterol and causes heart disease is dead and buried. Eggs are good for you, like all things in moderation. They are one of nature's super foods.

If I were in your shoes and wondered if I had any cardiovascular disease, I would get myself checked out with ultrasound. Easy, painless, low cost, and no radiation risk.

Cholesterol levels are a very poor predictor of heart disease, but its sells very well and makes customers for life.

Thanks for your Reply!

Report This| Share this:Cholesterol confusionI think you are wise to be "reluctant to take statins since you have never been diagnosed with cardiac problems." I never understood the logic in treating a person for a disease they didn't have.

If you are curious as to what the inside of your arteries look like, ultrasound is low cost and risk free. It can look inside your neck, Heart valves, and leg arteries.

Prescribing a statin to healthy people based upon a cholesterol number, in hopes of preventing heart disease in the future is all a silly wild guess.

Eliminating eggs would probably have little to no effect on your serum cholesterol levels. Nutritional science has come a long way in the last 20 years, and the old 1970's theory that eating an egg raises cholesterol and causes heart disease is dead and buried. Eggs are good for you, like all things in moderation. They are one of nature's super foods.

If I were in your shoes and wondered if I had any cardiovascular disease, I would get myself checked out with ultrasound. Easy, painless, low cost, and no radiation risk.

Cholesterol levels are a very poor predictor of heart disease, but its sells very well and makes customers for life.

There is much discussion concerning statins in subjects that are otherwise healthy with the exception of high cholesterol. let's look at your numbers, your LDL is way too high, that's been backed up by study after study. What is curious is your high HDL as well so what you really want to look at is your cholesterol ratio. If it's under 4.5 you're probably good. Having said that, today the medical profession will always treat the high LDL first. There can be side effects to statins, but they are rarely if ever permanent and very minor and relatively rare. In fact they are safer than most antibiotics and even Ibuprophen.

The thought that some here will make that being proactive to prevent a disease by taking a drug is not a good idea is usually slanted against statin use and not an overall sound principle, If one has risk factors that redispose them for a poor outcome, why would you not be proactive? First, if your cholesterol is as high as yours is, there is an issue with your body over producing LDL as only about 10% of your LDL comes from diet. Your liver is producing too much and the meds will control it. Also, as you age it will become a bigger issue. An ultrasound is not going to show how healthy the arteries in your heart are, only an angiogram will do that and unfortunately there is not necessarily a relationship between arterial plaques in the neck and legs to the arteries in your heart.

Let me know if I can provide any links to back up what your high LDL means.

Thanks for your Reply!

Report This| Share this:Cholesterol confusionThere is much discussion concerning statins in subjects that are otherwise healthy with the exception of high cholesterol. let's look at your numbers, your LDL is way too high, that's been backed up by study after study. What is curious is your high HDL as well so what you really want to look at is your cholesterol ratio. If it's under 4.5 you're probably good. Having said that, today the medical profession will always treat the high LDL first. There can be side effects to statins, but they are rarely if ever permanent and very minor and relatively rare. In fact they are safer than most antibiotics and even Ibuprophen.

The thought that some here will make that being proactive to prevent a disease by taking a drug is not a good idea is usually slanted against statin use and not an overall sound principle, If one has risk factors that redispose them for a poor outcome, why would you not be proactive? First, if your cholesterol is as high as yours is, there is an issue with your body over producing LDL as only about 10% of your LDL comes from diet. Your liver is producing too much and the meds will control it. Also, as you age it will become a bigger issue. An ultrasound is not going to show how healthy the arteries in your heart are, only an angiogram will do that and unfortunately there is not necessarily a relationship between arterial plaques in the neck and legs to the arteries in your heart.

Let me know if I can provide any links to back up what your high LDL means.

Thank you so much for your help. I'll discuss the possible screening test with my doctor and a referral to a specialist. I also appreciate that you mentioned that Preventive Cardiologists and Lipid Specialists exist. I have been wondering about which type of specialist to see. I do not have a strong history of heart disease, although my father had a minor heart attack when he was quite elderly. My siblings' lipid profile is simmilar to mine, but my numbers are higher.

Thanks for your Reply!

Report This| Share this:Cholesterol confusionThank you so much for your help. I'll discuss the possible screening test with my doctor and a referral to a specialist. I also appreciate that you mentioned that Preventive Cardiologists and Lipid Specialists exist. I have been wondering about which type of specialist to see. I do not have a strong history of heart disease, although my father had a minor heart attack when he was quite elderly. My siblings' lipid profile is simmilar to mine, but my numbers are higher.

1) Ask your doctor to schedule a retest since laboratories and their employees do make mistakes.2) Ask your doctor to explain to you what diagnostic significance your clearly atypical results have if any.3) Ask for the explanation be printed so you can study its meaning on websites like this one.4)Report back to this blog when you have done the above. I think we would be interested in your findings.

1) Ask your doctor to schedule a retest since laboratories and their employees do make mistakes.2) Ask your doctor to explain to you what diagnostic significance your clearly atypical results have if any.3) Ask for the explanation be printed so you can study its meaning on websites like this one.4)Report back to this blog when you have done the above. I think we would be interested in your findings.

Related Drug Reviews

Report Problems With Your Medications to the FDA

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

The opinions expressed in WebMD Communities are solely those of the User, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. These opinions do not represent the opinions of WebMD. Communities are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions. Some of these opinions may contain information about treatments or uses of drug products that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service or treatment.

Do not consider Communities as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your care plan or treatment. WebMD understands that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource, but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately.